Marie-Jean Hérault de Séchelles

Marie-Jean Hérault de Séchelles was born in 1759 in Paris to a noble family with a long tradition of civil service. He became a lawyer and rose to the position of King’s Advocate. He was introduced to Marie Antoinette thanks to the Polignacs whom he was related to.

Despite his connections to the upper echelons of society he was involved in the Revolution from its very beginning.  He either took part or was present at the Storming of the Bastille in 1789.  He was a member of the Jacobins but left to join the Feuillants.  He spoke in favour of war after the Declaration of Pillnitz. He personally declared that the nation should be declared to be in danger in June 1793 which sparked a wave of patriotism.

He was absent on a mission at Mont Blanc when the King was put on trial and executed.  He did however return becoming president of the Convention several times most famously when the Girondins were expelled from the Convention on the 2nd of June 1793.  He was elected to the Committee of Public Safety and he was chosen to give six speeches at the festival held in celebration of the monarchy's overthrow on the 10th August 1793 as a procession wound its way through Paris.

He was placed on various Representatives on a Mission posts throughout France.  However suspicions began to surround him.  Robespierre disliked him as he was both a noble and a atheist.  He further incurred the ire of the incorruptible when he supported Hébert’s Cult of Reason.  He was eventually arrested for harbouring an émigré and was arrested on the 15th of March 1794 he was tried alongside Danton and found guilty and guillotined on 5th April 1794.